the world is gloomier from the trivial, lance armstrong's confession, manti te'o's made-up tragedy, the 11-inch foot long subway sandwich to the frightening. we have a congress that drives perilously close to the edge of the cliff. then there's the profoundly sad massacre in newtown, connecticut, last month. the president put all his political capital on the line, but most people's money is on the national rifle association. newtown changed the president, but i'm not sure it changed enough members of congress to make a difference. listen to senate majority leader harry reid trying to give democrats cover to vote against the president to save their jobs. good lord. i mean, if newtown isn't enough to give us the emotional pull to make some changes in this country, then what is? >> you know, i hate to be debbie downer about t bit, but in talk to members the last couple days, democrats don't want to take a vote if it's not going to work. you know, the nra may have 4 million members and obama may have 1 million in his political organization, but they're all going to have to be mobilized. the